Highlights

$41.7 million design-build project to expand biogas production capabilities of 450 million-litre per day (MLD) wastewater treatment facility

Sole source contract awarded to CH2M in July 2010 with project completed in September 2012.

Facilities constructed include new primary and secondary sludge thickening facility, refurbishment of primary digester and upgrades to the biogas management system and purification system to produce biomethane.

The majority of biogas produced will be converted to electricity and heat via cogeneration

In July 2010, the City of Hamilton, Ontario awarded CH2M a sole source design-build contract to deliver the Woodward Avenue WWTP Biogas Enhancement and Digester Upgrade Project. The project is being completed on a fast-track basis to utilize government funding assistance made available via the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund (ISF).
The overall scope of the project includes:

Refurbish one of the two existing primary digesters in the South Digester Complex including replacement of the existing roof and roof mounted mixers, connecting gas collection piping and equipment to the North Digester Complex and digester heating system.

Upgrade the North Digester Complex as required to accommodate the thickened sludge and increased biogas generation. The upgrades will also include addressing operational issues identified by Plant staff.

Provision of a gas purification system and natural gas filling station. The system will be used to purify biogas from the digestion process to produce natural gas to fuel vehicles.

Utilization of the biogas for operation of a combined heat and power (CHP) system.

Design and programming associated with the plant SCADA required for the project in accordance with City of Hamilton SCADA standards.

The project began design in the summer of 2010. As of September 2012, performance testing was complete and over 120,000 man hours worked without a lost time injury. In 2012 the project was also honored with the Peter J. Marshall Municipal Innovation Award presented by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, which recognizes projects that exhibit key criteria such as innovation, tangible benefits, improved efficiency, innovative financing, and transferability.